Planning estimate
Pallet position estimator
A count of pallet positions for selective, single-deep rack in one rectangular area. It is a planning estimate only, not a quote, a permit drawing, or an engineered design.
The numbers in the form are starting values so the count can run. They are not a measurement of a warehouse.
2,464
pallet positions
For general illustration only. This sketch and count are rough, high-level estimates, not to scale, and not a quote, permit drawing, engineered design, or professional advice. They do not account for building columns, sprinklers, fire and building codes, permits, rack capacities, or site conditions. Do not rely on them for purchasing, construction, or safety decisions. EF Solutions Group makes no warranty as to accuracy and is not liable for decisions made from this tool. Contact EFS for an engineered layout.
This is a planning estimate only. Actual positions depend on building columns, sprinklers, the actual truck's aisle spec, and site conditions. Aisle figures are typical planning midpoints, not a named truck's RAS/AST.
Layout
- Equipment
- Sit-down counterbalance, 12 ft clear aisle
- Operating aisle
- 12 ft (144 in), load face to load face. Upright face to upright face is 12.5 ft (150 in).
- Upright depth
- 3.5 ft (42 in). Pallet depth minus 6 in, with 3 in of overhang on each side. The Interlake guide calls this frame depth.
- Beam
- Beam length is 8 ft (96 in) for 2 pallets on a 40 in wide pallet (Interlake recommended beam length).
- Bays per row
- 22 bays. Bay pitch is 8.25 ft (99 in), the beam plus the 3 in upright. One closing upright is included. Usable run: 185.67 ft (2228 in).
- Levels
- 4 storage levels: the floor plus 3 beam levels. Each added level uses the load height, 6 in of lift clearance, and a 5 in beam allowance. The beam allowance is an assumption, not a specific Interlake beam.
- Rows
- 14 pallet faces. 6 back-to-back pairs and 2 single rows. Width arrangement: a single row on each long wall, then an aisle, then back-to-back pairs each followed by an aisle, then the far wall row. Each pair is two frame depths plus a 1 ft (12 in) spacer. Leftover width stays open.
- Cross-aisle
- A 13 ft cross-aisle is deducted from the length.
- Pallet positions
- 2,464
- Density
- 0.0821 pallet positions per sq ft.
Same footprint, three aisle classes
Same building, same pallet, and the same allowances. Only the clear aisle changes. A difference is a position count from this estimate.
Sit-down counterbalance
12 ft clear aisle
2,464 pallet positions
This estimate
Reach truck
9 ft clear aisle
2,816 pallet positions
352 more positions than this estimate
Very narrow aisle (turret / swing-reach)
6.5 ft clear aisle
3,520 pallet positions
1,056 more positions than this estimate
The contact form takes a note. Include the building size, the pallet, and the truck.
Assumptions and catalog geometry
Assumption
Upright post width is 3 in. Assumption, not a catalog pick. Bay pitch adds this width to the beam length, and each run includes one closing upright.
Assumption
Beam height allowance is 5 in. Assumption, not a specific Interlake beam.
Assumption
Top clearance to structure or sprinklers. Assumption. The starting 18 in assumes standard-spray sprinklers. ESFR sprinklers typically need 36 in, so storage levels may be fewer. This estimate uses 1.5 ft (18 in).
Assumption
Wall offset. Assumption. Starting value: 6 in. This estimate uses 6 in. A single row against a wall is the offset, plus upright depth, plus 3 in of front overhang.
Assumption
Lift clearance above each unit load. The Interlake guide gives 4–6 in. Starting value: 6 in, the top of that range. Assumption. This estimate uses 6 in.
Assumption
Sit-down counterbalance 12 ft, reach truck 9 ft, and very narrow aisle (turret / swing-reach) 6.5 ft. Assumption: typical planning midpoints, not a named truck's RAS/AST.
Assumption
Cross-aisle is 13 ft. Assumption: a planning figure for a turning aisle at the rack ends. Starting state of the toggle: on.
Assumption
End-of-row allowance is 8 in at each end of the run. Assumption: the midpoint of the 6–10 in end-of-row protection range.
Catalog
Upright depth is the pallet depth minus 6 in, from 3 in of overhang on each side (Interlake Mecalux Selective PSG 2024, p.5).
Catalog
Recommended beam length for 2 pallets per level: 96 in for a 40 or 42 in pallet, 108 in for a 48 in pallet (Interlake p.5). This estimate uses 2 pallets per level. Another pallet width uses the closest of 40, 42, and 48 in, and an equal distance uses the narrower width. The guide also lists beams for 1 and 3 pallets per level; this count stays at 2.
EFS typical
A back-to-back pair is two frame depths plus a 12 in spacer. With the default 3 in pallet overhang on each side, the load-to-load flue is 6 in.
Rule of this estimate
The floor counts as a storage level. The count is selective rack. A back-to-back pair is two frame depths plus a 12 in spacer. The operating aisle is measured load face to load face.
Rule of this estimate
The width pattern is a single row on each long wall, an aisle, then each back-to-back pair followed by an aisle. A pair does not start on a wall, and an aisle is not left against a wall without a row. Leftover width stays open. Dead-end aisles, travel distance, VNA transfer aisles, columns, and dock staging (often 20 to 30 ft) are not modeled. Beam and upright load capacity are outside this count.